The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi has issued an advisory for its staff to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour after a few of them were tested positive for the infection.

“Must use reusable cloth face cover/surgical mask in the workplace. Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitation of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces,” the AIIMS management said in an advisory on Wednesday. “Cover your nose and mouth with elbow/handkerchief/tissue while sneezing and coughing. Maintain personal hygiene and physical distancing,” read the advisory.

“Gathering especially in canteens must be avoided, a gathering of five or more persons at any place in the office should be avoided. If feeling unwell then should leave the workplace immediately after informing their reporting officers. Such employees should also home quarantine themselves.” it added.

All employees who are at higher risk like pregnant employees, older employees or with underlying medical conditions should take extra precautions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Guwahati on April 14.
Apart from AIIMS Guwahati, he will dedicate to the nation three other medical colleges in Assam. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday shared the pictures of AIIMS, Guwahati.

“Ayushman Northeast! PM @NarendraModi Ji to dedicate to the nation AIIMS Guwahati, the first AIIMS of Northeast, on 14th April. Have a look at the stunning pictures of the New AIIMS of New India!” Mandaviya said in a tweet.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday shared the details of PM Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the state and informed that the PM would also be attending the mega Bihu celebration which is scheduled to be held in Guwahati on April 14.

“Assam will witness a historical moment on April 14 as more than 11,000 boys and girls will participate in Bihu which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness. Prime Minister’s presence will boost the morale of the people of Assam because we consider Bihu as the lifeline of Assam. The program will be unique and one of its kind and the people of Assam are looking forward to it”, said CM Sarma.

Listing down the several programs scheduled for PM Modi’s visit CM Sarma said, “PM Modi will launch several programs from AIIMS Guwahati. One hospital will be built on the IIT Guwahati premises. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an institute and will attend the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Gauhati High Court at Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.”

“PM Modi will attend the programme at Sarusajai Stadium. He will inaugurate the newly installed Assam Petro Chemicals Limited 500 project TPD Methanol at Namrup, costing Rs 1,709 crores. He will lay the foundation stone of another bridge connecting Palasbari-Sualkuchi on the Brahmaputra river, costing Rs 3,170 crore,” CM informed further.

Licenses of 18 pharma companies have been cancelled for manufacturing spurious medicines following an inspection by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on 76 companies across 20 states, ANI reported on Thursday. Action has been taken on 70 companies in Himachal Pradesh and 45 in Uttarakhand and 23 in Madhya Pradesh during the government crackdown on companies manufacturing spurious medicines, ANI reported.

ANI has accessed the list of companies that manufactured spurious medicines.
According to a list of accessed by ANI, most of the companies against whome action has been taken are registered in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

The license of Himalaya Meditek Pvt Ltd registered in Dehradun was suspended for manufacturing with immediate effect from December 30, 2022 and permission for it to manufacture 12 products was cancelled on February 7, this year.
Showcause and stop manufacturing notice was issued to Shri Sai Balaji Pharmatech Pvt Ltd from Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. After verification of compliance by Drug Inspectors, the stop-manufacturing order was revoked.

EG Pharmaceuticals, Vill Mandhala, Teh Kasauli, Dist Solan (Himachal Pradesh) was also issued show cause notice and the stop manufacturing order was revoked after verification of compliance.

Athens Life Sciences, Mauza Rampur Jattan, Nahan Road Kala Amb, Distt Sirmour 173030 (Himachal) was only issued show cause notice.

A warning was issued to Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd,(Unit -II), Rajban Road, Nariwala, Paonta Sahib (Himachal) and a show cause was issued.

GNB Medica Lab, in Himachal’s Solan, has been asked to stop manufacturing in tablets, capsules, dry syrups (Beta-Lactam), Injectables (Liquid Injection -vials, ampoules and PFS) Sachet and Protein Powder (General Section) and show cause notice issued as well as compliance sent to drug inspectors for verification.

Gnosis Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, Nahan Road, Village Moginand, Kala Amb, Sirmour (Himachal) was given show cause and stop manufacturing notices for Cosmetic Manufacturing.

Nestor Pharmaceuticals Limited registered in Faridabad was given a show-cause notice on January 30 this year. The firm was re-inspected post submission of compliance. It was strictly warned with a direction to comply with the provisions of Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Rules framed thereunder.

The massive crackdown on pharma companies across the country related to the manufacturing of spurious medicines is still underway.

It is critical to prepare for a healthy pregnancy for both the mother and the unborn child. Infertility, or the inability to conceive, is on the rise, according to the WHO, with a global frequency ranging from 3.9% to 16.8%. There are lifestyle variables and habits that influence our reproductive health and overall well-being. To increase their chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy, the couple should consider making several lifestyle changes and avoiding some infertility-causing behaviours.

1. A healthy weight is an essential factor to keep in mind. Whether a woman is underweight or overweight, hormonal abnormalities can inhibit ovulation and result in infertility. Consequently, it is essential to maintain a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

2. Obesity is associated with low sperm count and motility in men, leading to male infertility. Choosing nutritious foods is another crucial lifestyle change.

3. Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains are recommended, whereas processed foods, high-fat foods, and sugary beverages should be avoided. A nourishing diet promotes reproductive system health and a healthy pregnancy.

4. According to studies, consuming processed foods with a high-fat content not only contributes to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but also has a negative impact on fertility by diminishing sperm quality in men and disrupting ovulation in women.

5. Caffeine consumption is a normal part of daily life. However, caffeine consumption in excess of 400 mg per day is associated with both infertility and an increased risk of miscarriage.

6. Smoking and tobacco use can have negative effects on reproductive health. It affects the quantity and quality of sperm in men. In women, it can harm eggs and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage.

7. Both men and women are negatively affected by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol may inhibit ovulation, reduce the quality of sperm, and increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. During pregnancy and while trying to conceive, it is advised to abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

8. Management of stress is also essential. Stress inhibits ovulation and reduces the probability of conception. Therefore, it is crucial to participate in stress-relieving activities such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. Infertility has also been linked to poor sleep habits.

9. Frequent physical activity is recommended, but it is vital to avoid strenuous exercise and other activities that could cause injury or harm to the pregnancy. Moderate exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and promotes overall health.

10. Additionally, proper oral hygiene is crucial. Poor oral hygiene can cause periodontal disease, which has been linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. Consequently, it is recommended to regularly brush and floss teeth and visit the dentist for check-ups.

Finally, it is essential to receive regular screenings and examinations from a gynaecologist. Frequent examinations can help detect any underlying health conditions that may interfere with pregnancy and identify potential risk factors.

Preparing for a healthy pregnancy is essential for both the mother and the foetus. Significant lifestyle changes that can increase the likelihood of conception and promote a healthy pregnancy include maintaining a healthy weight, adopting a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs, managing stress, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining good oral hygiene, and receiving regular check-ups with a gynaecologist.

Vaginal yeast infections are one of the commonest infections of the vulvovaginal region in women. As many as 75% of women will suffer a yeast infection once in their lifetime. It is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans.

Women who suffer from this infection present with curdy white discharge and intense itching in the vulval region. The vagina is lined by healthy bacteria which are called lactobacillus, the growth of these bacteria is facilitated by the hormone estrogen. Lactobacilli keep the pH of the vagina acidic and prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungus. Sometimes this delicate balance is disturbed by some predisposing factors.

Causes of Vaginal Yeast infections

There are many reasons you could get a yeast infection, including:

1. Hormonal changes of pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
2.  Diabetes especially if not well-controlled leads to increased glucose in the cells of the lining of the vagina which as food for the yeast to grow.
3.  Sometimes yeast infections occur after an antibiotic course. Antibiotics kill the good bacteria, lactobacillus as well.
4.  People who use vaginal washes and sprays may also lead to a change in vaginal pH, triggering vaginal infection.
5.  Though a yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, it can be passed from person to person through sexual contact.

Treatments for Vaginal Yeast Infections

Antifungal medications are the mainstay of treatment. Antifungal vaginal suppositories, creams, ointments, and sometimes oral antifungals are the best way to treat these infections. One should consult a gynaecologist for confirmation of diagnosis and to start the right treatment at the right time.

If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, you may get yeast infections over and over again. It’s a condition called recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). If you get yeast infections at least four times a year, your doctor may recommend that you take a weekly antifungal pill for 6 months to fight them.

Probiotic intake can help slow the growth of yeast in the vagina, thus lowering the risk of recurrent infection. Controlling sugar levels in the case of diabetics and losing weight if obese can also help keep these infections at bay. Avoiding using hygiene products like douches and wearing cotton breathable undergarments and trousers etc can help in preventing these infections.

Apollo, the world’s largest vertically integrated healthcare provider, has released its annual Health of the Nation report that deep dives into the prevalence and growth of NCDs and highlights the importance of the right preventive healthcare measures to ensure India stays healthy.

Infographic_Apollo Health of Nation 2023.pdf

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Dr. Prathap Reddy, Chairman, of Apollo Hospitals Group, stated that “Preventive healthcare needs to become a national priority. Over the past 3 decades, non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death and suffering, contributing to 65% of deaths in India. NCDs affect not just health, but also productivity and economic growth. The estimated economic burden on India is expected to be about $4.8 trillion by 2030. As the youngest and fastest-growing major economy in the world, the health of our nation is a critical indicator of our future, and the health of our people will determine how effectively we live up to our full potential. What we need is a proactive and highly defined strategy to minimize the impact of NCDs. And the best solution lies in prevention.” 

The increasing trend for NCDs and a significant rise in early risk factors

The rise in preventive screenings has also led to an increase in the diagnosis of early risk factors like Obesity and Dyslipidemia (cholesterol irregularities) among Indians across age groups. These are indications of the potential onset of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension and a wake-up call for individuals to make early shifts in their lifestyle behaviors.

• There is a 50% increase in the prevalence of Obesity among Indians between 2019 and 2022.

o      Obesity has seen an uptick in diagnosis in those less than 45 years of age by 43% and by 60% in people over the age of 45.

• Dyslipidemia or Cholesterol irregularities has seen an 18% increase in prevalence among Indians between 2019 and 2022

o      This is also fuelled by a significant increase in its prevalence among those over 45 years of age by more than 35%

Along with these early risk factors, we also see a rise in the prevalence of conditions like Diabetes and Hypertension.

• Diabetes and Hypertension diagnoses have seen an 8% and 11% increase respectively between 2019-22

o      There is also an increased risk of Hypertension amongst Indians over 45 years, its prevalence in diagnosis has increased from 14% to 16% in the last 3 years.

o      Chronic stress and anxiety increase the risk of incidence of hypertension by 1.5X and diabetes by up to 2X. Men with chronic stress have double the risk of incidence of diabetes than women.

We administered the PHQ9 Depression Questionnaire to about 2000 people with Type 2 Diabetes at Apollo Hospitals to understand their Mind Health status. Our analysis showed that with every one unit increase in age and BMI, PHQ9 the depression score also increases. About 50% had some form of depression, and Diabetes along with any weight-related comorbidity is an indicator to screen for depression.

• The report also puts the spotlight on the importance of getting more frequent or extended health tests for conditions that are prevalent in our families

o      The report finds that Diabetes is prevalent in 1 in 3 people with a history of the condition in their family.

• Healthy sleep is an important indicator of overall health.

o      In one study with 20,000 people, 47% have sleep problems and 52% have impairments in their mental health state, and 1 in 3 have both issues.

o      2 out of 3 individuals do not have an optimal gap between dinner and bedtime, which is critical for good quality sleep. It is either less than 1 hour or more than 2 hours, both scenarios leading to sub-optimal sleep quality.

• Impaired metabolism is also closely linked with digestive irregularities, such as gas/bloating, heaviness post-meal, burning sensation, and belch/burp. The analysis found that 64% of people had digestive irregularities, going up to 81% amongst diabetics.

Many ‘Indias’ in one India

Our diversity in lifestyle has led to the emergence of different NCD trends across regions, likely impacted by our regional diet preferences.

• While liver diseases saw maximum prevalence in the East (at 50%), its lowest impact relatively is in the South (28%)
• West has seen the least relatively the lowest prevalence of diabetes (15%) while the South has the highest (27%)
• Obesity trends have been similar across regions, ranging between 22-24%
• Dyslipidemia (cholesterol) has the highest prevalence across all regions, with the North seeing the most (48%), followed by the West (41%), the East (39%), and then the South (37%).

Power of Prevention

The silent epidemic of NCDs is behind 40% of all hospital stays. While there is an increase in Indians taking preventive screenings, these are still largely symptom led. Regular and comprehensive health checks, starting at a young age, can significantly reduce mortality rates, disease incidence as well as the frequency of hospital visits throughout our lifespan.

There is also a need to reimagine preventive health assessments and design them more suitable for the Indian population.

For instance:

• The median age of breast cancer diagnosis from mammograms done at Apollo in the last year was 54-57 years; lower than that seen in mature markets (where the median age of detection is 62-65 years). This suggests an earlier onset of disease in Indian women, warranting annual screening for women from 40 years onwards.

o    According to clinically published sources, early diagnosis through preventive checks of breast cancer can reduce mortality rates by up to 30%.

• Undetected sleep disorders often lead to chronic health conditions due to late diagnosis and oversight by the healthcare systems

o    Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is known to increase the risk of heart problems, and is often screened only in the obese (BMI > 30) and with neck circumference > 40cm

o    Apollo’s study of people with Type 2 suggests that intermediate to high risk of OSA occurs even at a lower BMI (26) in the population screened, with a majority (91%) having a neck circumference < 40cm, thus highlighting the need to screen for OSA rigorously, irrespective of the BMI, especially for high-risk cohorts like patients with Diabetes.

Enhanced ‘ProHealth’ by Apollo

In a bid to strengthen the preventive healthcare ecosystem, Apollo has launched an enhanced ProHealth, India’s most individualized preventive health program that brings together the power of AI to help individuals stay ahead of potential NCDs. Combined with Apollo’s pioneering experience of 40 years, the healthcare group has developed new technologies based on AI and ML for predicting risk scores and developing structured lifestyle programs with new models of care that lead to improved clinical outcomes.

What differentiates ProHealth:

1. ProHealth is a 100% doctor-designed health program
2. It creates a first-of-its-kind health profile that determines the areas of concern and custom designs a unique health check for every individual
3. It integrates predictive health metrics through a sophisticated AI engine to determine potential areas of prevention
4. In addition to the results, every individual also has access to health mentors to transform their lifestyle and make the program truly preventive in every sense

Technology is transforming the approach to dealing with health risks and enabling early detection and therefore must be integrated into preventive screenings. With a firm belief that AI and big data will be key in predicting risks and delivering personalized health solutions, Apollo’s ProHealth today is India’s most individualized preventive health program. Apollo also strongly believes that a laundry list of tests is not an effective solution to get to the root of the problem. For instance, there is a clear data-driven correlation between diabetes-obstructive sleep apnea-heart problems OR weight-related comorbidities & depression, however, generic health checks are unable to deduce these. The need of the hour is true personalization and prediction, which forms the foundation of Apollo ProHealth. Additionally, by offering convenient access to health mentors as a part of ProHealth, every individual is empowered to take charge of their own health and create a long-term and permanent impact in the battle over NCDs.

Apollo ProHealth is backed by a predictive algorithm that captures one’s health status, predicts potential health risks, and individualizes every health check. A personal health risk assessment is digitally available to every individual, post which they can visit the nearest Apollo facility to them to conduct the set of customized tests recommended for them.

About Health of the Nation Report

The Health of the Nation by Apollo gives insights into the prevalence and risk factors of NCDs, emphasizing hotspots, that is, areas of elevated disease burden across the country. The report derives from data based on people Apollo has engaged with through its system. The report aims to put in place approaches to improve disease prevention, increase the accuracy of diagnoses and create a more personalized and patient-centric treatment approach. Over 500,000 health checks have been studied over the past 3 years to arrive at the findings. The majority of the data shared through the Health of the Nation is based completely on Apollo’s de-identified hospital information systems and EMR, AyurVAID, and other studies as part of the Apollo Group.

A Chinese scientist has claimed that the COVID-19 virus may have originated from humans, CNN reported.
Tong Yigang of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, said that the genetic sequences of viral samples taken from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan thought to be the ground zero site of the pandemic, were “almost identical” to those of patients infected with the coronavirus, suggesting that COVID-19 may have originated from humans. Tong was speaking at a press conference held by the Chinese State Council regarding research into the origin of the virus.

Tong said that between January 2020 and March 2020, more than 1,300 environmental and frozen animal samples had been taken at the market, and researchers had isolated three strains of virus from the environmental samples.

He also said there was not yet sufficient evidence to back up recent studies that had suggested racoon dogs were the origin of the COVID-19 virus, according to CNN.

A Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researcher, Zhou Lei, while speaking at the same event, called for global scientific collaboration in tracing the origins of the virus, saying that the site where COVID-19 was first discovered was not necessarily where it originated.

According to CNN, China has in the past been heavily criticized for blocking international investigations into the origins of the virus. Earlier this week the World Health Organization said it still did not have key data from China about the beginnings of the outbreak, a lack of disclosure the head of its program on emerging diseases said was “simply inexcusable.”

China has, however, continuously said that it has been transparent and cooperative with the WHO.
Debates surrounding the origins of the virus recently re-emerged following an assessment last month by the US Department of Energy it was most likely the result of an accident from a laboratory. But the US agency also marked it as a “low confidence” determination, according to CNN.

Zhou on Saturday refuted the lab leak theory, saying it is “extremely unlikely.”
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently (local time) said that the organization will continue pushing until it finds an answer to how the COVID-19 pandemic started, following a report suggesting it had abandoned the search.

“We need to continue to push until we get the answer,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, referring to the search for the origins of the virus that first began spreading in China in late 2019.

Ghebreyesus in January spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei, director of China’s National Health Commission about the COVID-19 situation in the country and sought deeper cooperation on the origins of COVID-19 pandemic.

“Spoke with Minister Ma Xiaowei about the #COVID19 situation in #China. I appreciated the release of detailed information, which we request they continue to share. Asked for the sharing of further sequences and cooperation on understanding the virus origins,” WHO chief tweeted.

Providence recently reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s deployment of an army general to take charge of Wuhan labs makes it clear that Xi was never transparent about the origin of the virus and it was merely to set false narratives.

A total of 5,357 new Covid-19 infections were documented in the country in the last 24 hours, a modest decline from Saturday’s figure of 6,155 cases, according to a bulletin issued by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday. Covid infections throughout the country have increased in recent days, with daily fresh infections reaching 2,994 on April 1, 3,824 on April 2, 3,641 on April 3, 3,038 on April 4, 4,435 on April 5, 5,335 on April 6, and 6155 on April 7. As of Sunday, the total number of active cases was 32,814, with a daily positive rate of 3.39 percent, according to the Health Ministry.

After considering the low infection incidence and the quantity of Covid cases in Delhi and across the country, the Supreme Court restored to the physical hearing mode of case adjudication on April 4, 2022. For quite some time, the Supreme Court has been successfully experimenting with the hybrid form of hearing (a blend of physical and virtual).

Even when actual hearings resume, the Supreme Court has begun live-streaming the Constitution bench proceedings via the Supreme Court app and YouTube. According to the ministry, the weekly positive rate is currently at 3.54 percent.

With a statewide increase in Covid cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya conducted a review conference with health ministers from all states and union territories through video conferencing on Friday. Mandaviya advised state health ministers to hold simulated drills at hospitals on April 10 and 11 to test their readiness to handle an increase in cases. He also advised states to monitor trends in influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases, send enough samples for COVID-19 and Influenza testing, and ramp up whole genome sequencing of positive samples.

A big UK Biobank research published in the open-access journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research revealed that poor quality sleep may increase a person’s genetic predisposition to asthma, potentially doubling their chance of being diagnosed with the illness.

A healthy sleep pattern seems to be linked to a lower risk of asthma, prompting the researchers to suggest that spotting and treating sleep disorders early on might lessen the risks, irrespective of genetic predisposition. People with asthma often report sleep disturbances, including broken/short sleep and insomnia. But it’s not clear if sleep quality itself might influence asthma risk, or whether healthy sleep patterns might lessen this risk, say the researchers.
In a bid to find out, they drew on 455,405 UK Biobank participants who were between 38 and 73 years old when enrolled between 2006 and 2010.

Participants were asked about their sleep patterns, based on five specific traits: early or late chronotype (‘morning lark’ or ‘night owl’); sleep duration; insomnia; snoring; and excessive daytime sleepiness.
A healthy sleep pattern was defined as early chronotype; clocking up 7-9 hours of sleep every night; never or rare insomnia; no snoring; and no frequent daytime sleepiness.

Based on their responses, 73,223 people met the criteria for a healthy sleep pattern; 284,267 an intermediate sleep pattern; and 97,915 a poor sleep pattern.

The genetic make-up of all UK Biobank participants is routinely mapped, and a genetic asthma risk score for each of the 455,405 people in this study was drawn up according to the number of genetic variants associated with asthma in their genome.

Around 1 in 3 participants were classified as ‘high’ genetic risk (150,429) and another third (151,970) as ‘intermediate’ risk. The remainder were classified as ‘low’ risk.
Participants’ respiratory health was tracked up to the date of an asthma diagnosis, death, or until 31 March 2017, whichever came first.

During a monitoring period of just under 9 years, 17,836 people were diagnosed with asthma. They were more likely to have potentially influential risk factors than those who weren’t diagnosed with the condition.
These were: lower levels of education and a greater likelihood of unhealthy sleep traits and patterns; obesity; higher genetic asthma risk scores; higher levels of smoking and drinking; high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, acid reflux; and greater exposure to air pollution.

Some 7,105 people at high genetic risk of asthma and 5,748 at intermediate genetic risk were diagnosed with the condition during the monitoring period.
Compared with those at low genetic risk, those with the highest risk were 47% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, while those with a poor sleep pattern were 55% more likely.

But people at high genetic risk who also reported poor sleep patterns were 122% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than those with both a healthy sleep pattern and a low genetic risk–in other words, they were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with asthma.

All five sleep traits were independently associated with lower risks for asthma, with never/rare insomnia and sleep duration of 7-9 hours a night seemingly the most influential, with risk reductions of 25% and 20%, respectively.

Further in-depth analysis on a smaller group of people indicated that a healthy sleep pattern might reduce the risk of asthma in those at high genetic risk by 37%, suggesting that a healthy sleep pattern might help offset asthma risk, regardless of genetic susceptibility, say the researchers.

In theory, at the population level, a low genetic risk combined with a healthy sleep pattern might translate into 19% fewer cases of asthma, suggest the researchers.
The association between sleep and asthma may be two-way, they suggest, offering some possible explanations for their findings.

“The negative impact of sleep disorders on asthma, which is generally considered a chronic inflammatory disease, might be mediated by sleep-induced chronic inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated that sleep disorders, such as unfavourable sleep duration and insomnia, are associated with chronic inflammation.

“In theory, the immune response to inflammation could generate pro-inflammatory cytokines that result in cellular infiltration and airway inflammation, further increasing the risk of asthma,” they write.

This is an observational study, and as such can’t establish cause, and the researchers acknowledge several limitations to their findings.

As the UK Biobank only provided information on 38-73 year olds, the effect on children and younger adults is still unclear, added to which the findings apply only to people of European ancestry. Lastly, the UK Biobank may be subject to a ‘healthy volunteer’ selection bias.

Nevertheless, the researchers conclude: “Considering that poor sleep combined with high genetic susceptibility yielded a greater than twofold asthma risk, sleep patterns could be recommended as an effective lifestyle intervention to prevent future asthma, especially for individuals with high-risk genetics.”

Article by Dr. Aruna Kalra – Senior Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram

Not all pregnancies go so smoothly. Given the current pandemic situation and lifestyle changes, a number of women are having high-risk pregnancies. If you are going through a high-pregnancy, you and your little one can be at an increased health risk before, during or after delivery. Special care and regular monitoring throughout the pregnancy is very important.

Sometimes, a high-risk pregnancy can be a result of a pre-existing health condition before pregnancy. In other cases, a medical condition may occur during your pregnancy period that makes your pregnancy highly risky. Here are some risk factors associated with a high-risk pregnancy:

• Late Pregnancy:Women who choose to get pregnant in her late 30s are at an increased risk of high-risk pregnancy.
• Lifestyle choices:Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs can make your pregnancy highly risky.
• Pre-existing maternal health problems:High blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid disease, obesity, blood or heart disorders, asthma, infections, etc.  can increase the risks associated with pregnancy.
• Other Complications:Some complications develop during pregnancy including abnormal placenta position or low foetal growth, etc. These conditions can make your pregnancy risky.
• Multiple pregnancies: APregnancy is at high-risk in case of twins or higher order multiples.
• Pregnancy history:A history of pregnancy-related hypertension disorders, such as preeclampsia, can increase the risks of having a high-risk pregnancy. If you had a premature-birth delivery in your previous pregnancy or if you’ve had multiple premature births, the there is an increased risk of a premature delivery in your current pregnancy also.

Although high-risk pregnancy causes a lot of stress and anxiety, if taken proper precautions, you can have a healthy outcome despite the high risks involved. Here are five precautions you should follow to have a healthy baby:

1. Regular check-ups: If you are having a high-risk pregnancy, special medical care and regular monitoring is very essential. T is important to be in regular touch with your healthcare provider. Go for routine check-ups. Observe the changes in your body and contact your doctor as soon as you feel something not right is happening inside you or if you are not feeling well or comfortable. Be well aware and better prepared.

2. Trust your doctor: Trusting your doctor is the key to overcome a high-risk pregnancy easily. Have faith in your healthcare provider. They want the best for you and will give you the best advices and suggestions. Listening to other people, reading on the internet, believing others’ stories would not only give you stress and anxiety but also lower your self-confidence. This can make things even worse for your and your baby’s health. Stop confusing yourself by listening to others or by searching anything online. If you have any doubts or questions, ask your doctor and never take any step without taking her permission.

3. Strict control: To ensure a healthy lifestyle and given the fact that you are going through a high-risk pregnancy, you need to follow a healthy and balanced diet, strictly. Cravings are natural during your pregnancy period but be moderate while fulfilling them. Take small portions and limit the intake of fat-filled foods. Junk food should be completely avoided. If you are feeling like eating anything junk, make a healthier version of it at home and avoid eating it outside. If you are suffering from gestational diabetes, you will need to avoid sugar totally. If you facing hypertension i.e. preeclampsia, then you should limit your salt intake. Hence, it is always better to follow your diet strictly to ensure a healthy delivery.

4. Exercise Routine: Exercise helps your body to stay and fit active, physically as well as mentally. But if you are going through a high-risk pregnancy, it is advised not to do complex exercises or yoga or antenatal exercises. Same is the case if you are suffering from a low-lying placenta. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise regime and take advice from him/her about the exercises that you are allowed to perform.

5. Be well prepared before the delivery: You should be well prepared before the delivery date. Since you are suffering from a high-risk pregnancy, you may not know when you will have to go for a delivery so, it is advised to pack your hospital bag well in advance. Also be prepared with the things you may need after the delivery.